Mother found not guilty of assaulting assistant principal

October 06, 2016 - 8:14 AM

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - A Virginia mother accused of hitting an assistant principal at her child's elementary school in the head, briefly knocking her unconscious, has been found not guilty following an appeal.

The Virginian-Pilot (http://bit.ly/2d5JvjC ) reports 44-year-old Tracy Lawrence had been given a 90-day jail sentence after being convicted in June of assault and disorderly conduct.

Lawrence appealed the verdict and a jury on Tuesday found her not guilty.

Lawrence's son said Lakeview Elementary School Assistant Principal Sylvia Hodges-Melvin hit him in January while he and another child were involved in a confrontation in the school's cafeteria.

Lawrence argued that she never hit Hodges-Melvin and accused the administrator of making it up. Hodges-Melvin testified she only separated the boys.

A school system spokesman declined comment on the most recent verdict.

OPINION Editor, This is a busy time of year, but I find it’s also a time of reflection, particularly as January marks the end of my two-year term as Chair and my 10 years serving on the Board of Interior